During this past week home for break, I was talking to one of my cousins who is a fourth-grade teacher about her kids and teaching. She was telling me how she likes to read to them and how as people get older they tend to stop reading as much for pleasure. And it hit me that I am one of those people.

I used to love to read. I have a closet at home filled with books that I haven't opened or looked at in years. I used to buy a new book whenever I finished the last one. I was always reading. But when I left high school and life became crazy, I realized I stopped reading for pleasure. Unless it's assigned for a class, I never read books anymore.

Talking to my cousin reminded me how much I love to read. I haven't read a book just for fun in the longest time and it makes me sad. I used to get lost in books and the stories they painted. When I was stressed or upset instead of watching tv I would read a book. It's something I lost and I know that a lot of people lose as they get older.

This is a trend I'm ready to break.

Why is it that we lose this love of reading as we age? Is it because our lives get too crazy? We have too much on our plates? We just don't want to? This might all be true, but we still find the time to sit in front of a screen and watch tv. Why can't we find the time to sit on the couch and read a couple pages?

Reading is good for you. It's exciting and fun and a perfect way to lose yourself in a world different than your own. It strengthens your creativity and imagination; it opens your eyes to new worlds and different points of view. I used to pride myself on how fast and how often I read, and now, I have to think hard about the last time I read a book just because I wanted to.

I know it's hard because this day in age we only read when it's for a grade or a class and that takes the fun right out of it. But it's important to not lose the love of reading. It's something we should treasure and pass on to our kids so they can pass it on to their kids.

In this digital age, I am working to step away from the screen and open a book. My cousin reminded me why I love to read and how much I don't want to lose that. I'm here to remind you the same thing.

So the next time you find yourself with a free half hour and you plan on spending it in front of the tv, try to convince yourself to pick up a book and spend that time reading. I promise you won't regret it.

To get you started, here are five of my favorite books that I would recommend:

1. Ingo by Helen Dunmore

2. The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo by Amy Schumer

3. The Tenderness of Thieves by Donna Frietas

4. The Sound by Sarah Alderson

5. The Cellar by Natasha Preston